Saturday, May 9, 2009

"It's A Wrap" Basket

Today was a "sew day" at Ricci's. Before we got started our girlfriend Janean, and her 3 very wonderful sisters stopped by to say hello. All 4 of these ladies live out of town, but were in St. George this weekend for a family funeral. Sisters Janean, Tauna, Sheree, and Patty are all quilters and I suggested they come by and see Ricci's amazing sewing room before they headed home.

What a treat to all be together.Ricci and Janean

Ricci showing the ladies her amazing quilt that was just done by Cindy Needham.Janean had the cutest bag.

Tauna was carrying a really great one too, this one all out of wool.

After the ladies left, we got down to business.

The main reason Ricci, Linda and I got together today was to work on baskets. We saw these in a book and wanted to give them a try. I knew I wanted to sit next to Ricci and Linda and soak up their creative ideas.

We used the book "It's a Wrap" by Susan Breier. So many wonderful projects inside!

Linda made her first basket the other night so she could give us some tips for putting them together.

*The little balls inside of the bowl are are Ricci's. As she gathers small little strips of fabric scraps that she would normally throw away, she instead wraps them into a ball.

When I first looked at these baskets I thought they would be very complicated. Can I just tell you, it was pretty much a breeze. We all agreed, these are much easier to make than we expected. The book is wonderful because it contains a lot of pictures that pretty much guide you through step by step.

I especially loved it, because I could use my fabric scraps. Cut strips into around 3/4 inch wide. Wrap those around nylon cording. Linda got "Clothesline" that can be found at a store like Walmart or K-Mart.

Then zig- zag the cording into a coil.

We didn't finish our baskets, but are very close to being done. Linda will still add some color on the top of her black.

Mine will be a basket made out of red and yellow. I've just started building up the sides.

Ricci is making a plate and adding couching. It helps to work at Superior Threads where we are around so many beautiful threads that add an extra touch to our projects. As Ricci zig- zagged, she placed a beautiful metallic down first, which added sparkle to the seams.

This picture is a little blurry, but you get the idea. Ricci will eventually weave the ends of the metallic through with a needle.

For the couching, she used Ricky Tims Razzle Dazzle from Superior Threads. You can find it HERE.

Our time together was up before we finished the projects, but we can quickly complete at home.

It was so much fun just to have a girl friend day, to visit, have lunch, and learn a new skill. I am loving these baskets! And now that I see how easy they were to do, I may have a new addiction.

I love that! I went to a quilt shop a few years ago and a lady taught me to do that. I love it because as you say, you can use scraps, and you can make them any size you like! One year I made small ones for all of my friends at school to use on their desk to collect small things! So fun! I will post a pix of a small one that I have and another I made for my mom to put her tv remotes, etc. in! It is definitely one of my favorite, fun, fast projects!

Ricci is so darn amazing. And you had the Lyman Sisters!!! They are all so fun. I am so lucky to have them come see us at our group in Alpine, too. Good people all of those girls. Fun projects. I am always amazed at what great stuff comes out of St. George talent wise.